Calf-feeder.



w. 0. Devon.

cm FEED ER. APPLICATION FILHTIUNE 23. I915- 'iirnn srn WILLIAM D. DEVOR-E, 0F ALTAIMONT, ILLINOIS.

ALF-FEEDER.

Lzii iifiisel.

Application filed June 23,

To all whom, it may GO'IALGITL.

Be it known that I, VVILLIALvr D. Dnvonn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Altamont, in the county of Etlingham and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Calf-Feeder; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an improved calf feeder.

It has been found more or less ditiicult and tedious to educate a calf or the like to drink milk from a bucket, hence it is the object of the present invention to provide an improved device, that will create the impression on the animal that it is milking its mother.

A further object of the invention is to provide a supporting frame for holding a bucket provided with a detachable flexible bottom (which resembles the bag of the cow) having four tips, whereby four calves may milk at the same time.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, falling within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of'parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the draw' igs, and claimed.

In the drawings Figure -1 is a view in perspective of the improved calf feeder constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail View showing the flexible bottom detached from the upper part of the bucket.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the annular band or ring 14.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a supporting frame as a whole, comprising an upper annular portion 2 having four downwardly and outwardly extending support ing legs 3. The annular portion 2 has a circular opening 4:, to receive the bucket 5, which is provided with an annular flange 6 to rest upon the annular top 2, there being suitable fastening means 7 passing through the flange 6 and the top of the supporting frame, to hold the bucket securely in place. A suitable cover or closure 8 telescopes the top of the bucket, to prevent foreign matter from falling into the skim milk. The

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12,1918.

191-5. Serial No. 35.793.'

cover or closure is provided with a suit.- able handle 9, whereby the same may be detached or attached. The lower portion 10 of the body of the bucket has an annular bead or rim 11, and 12 denotes a rubber or other flexible bottom (which resembles the bag of the cow) and which is provided at its upper part with a bead 13, to fit above and adjacent to the bead 11. The thickness of the wall of the bottom converges downwardly from the bead 13 of the bottom or bag. In other words, the wall of the bottom or bag is thicker adjacent the bead 13 than it is the lower portion of the flexible bag or bottom, thereby reinforcing the material where the bag or bottom is clamped in place. An annular metal band 14; is provided consist ing of two sections 15 and 16 hingedly united at 17. This sectional band is placed about the bead of the flexible bottom or bag, in such wise, as to clamp the flexible bottom or bag detachably to the bucket so as to prevent leakage of the milk therein. The free ends of the sections of the metal band are connected by a suitable bolt 18, including a washer 19 and thumb nut 20. Said clamping band 14: is angular in cross section, and as before stated, surrounds the bead 13, so that the inwardly extending flange of the angular shape of the band will overlie said bead 13, thereby preventing downward movement of the clamping band. The inner edge of said inwardly extending overlying flange of the band alines vertically above the outer edge of the bead 11 of the bucket 5, and is partially spaced from the outer circumference of said bucket, thereby preventing the bead 13 of the rubber bottom 12 from pulling over the bead 11, when the calf is pulling upon the nipples while feeding. The lower portion of the flexible bottom or bag is provided with four contracted projections 21 having passages 22, thereby constituting teats, whereby four calves at the same time may be fed. The lower ends of the legs 3 are provided with apertures to receive suitable fastening means 23 to hold the supporting frame rigid on that upon which the frame stands.

The invention having been set forth, what i claimed as new and useful is 1. A calf feeding device consisting of a bucket, and a supporting frame therefor, said bucket comprising an upper partially tapering tubular part and a flexible semispherical bottom part provided with a pluthe upper part, said detachable connections consisting of an annular bead ad acent tho lower edge of the upper part, a second annular bead adjacent the upper edge of the semi-spherical flexible part overlying and engaging the first bead, and a clamping band angular in cross section surrounding the bead of the lower flexible part and having an inwardly extending annular flange extending inwardly toward and overlying the bead of said lower flexible part, so that its inner edge alines vertically above the outer edge of the bead of the upper part and partially spaced from the circumference of said upper part, thereby preventing the bead of the lower part from pulling over the bead of the upper part, said clamping band consisting of two hinged sections and means to draw the sections close toward the bead of the lower part, thereby preventing leakage of the fluid.

2. In a device asset forth, the combination of an upper partially tapering part and a lower substantially semi-spherical flexible part having nipples, of a joint connecting said parts, said joint comprising an outwardly extending annular bead on the lower portion of the upper part, an inwardly extending annular bead on the upper portion of the lower part and extending inwardly and overlying the first bead, and a clamping band angular in cross section surrounding the bead-of the lower flexible part and having an inwardly extendingannular flange extending inwardly toward and overlying the bead of said lower flexible part,

Copies of this patent may be obtained-for ence of said part, thereby preventing the bead of the lower part from pulling over the bead of the upper part, said clamping band consisting of two hinged sections and means to draw the sections close toward the bead of the lower part, thereby preventing leakage of the fluid.

3. In a calf feeding device, an upper partially tapering tubular part the outer circumference of which at its lower end having an outwardly extending annular bead, a support for said tubular'part, a lower tapering shaped hollow flexible part having a plura'lity of nipples at its lower end, and its upper marginal edge provided'with an 'in' wardly extending annular bead engaging and overlying the first bead, a clamping band angular 1n cross section conforming to and engaging the upper marginal portion of the flexible part, thereby forcing the inwardly extending bead in close overlying engagement with the outwardly extending bead, said angular band having the inner edge of its horizontal flange substantially alining vertically above the outer edge of'the first bead, whereby the second bead cannot be pulled over the first bead. c

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

WILLIAM D. DEVORE;

Witnesses; v p

H. H. I. CILLY, WM. H. BAKER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

